Well, there really hasn't been much progression (musically) with Destruction for a long while, Hence the "C" rating on this album. Ever since Schmier re-joined the band, they had a couple of good releases namely 'All Hell Breaks Loose' (2001), 'The Antichrist' (2001) and the compilation 'Thrash Anthems' (2007). Other than that, there really are no innovative riffs like they used to have with say 'Mad Butcher' (song) or older albums like 'Release from Agony' (1987) and a classic 'Infernal Overkill' (1985). When Harry Wilkens was on lead the band was at its pinnacle. Without lineup changes and the 90's only producing maybe one good release with a different vocalist on 'Cracked Brain' (1990). That's about it.

The 21st Century Destruction doesn't have me very pleased. None of the lyrics or choruses are anything like vintage Destruction. Here on 'Born to Perish' we have an exceptional production sound, great drummer, decent lead guitarist (not Mike Sifringer) and great vocalist in Schmier. But the songwriting is just bothering me. It's just not as catchy as they used to be. The songs all sound the same. Being a former heavy metal guitarist myself, I listen to the guitars closely. And Mike cannot play lead worth squat, but this guitarist they recruited is doing them some justice.

Destruction is globally recognized with their impact on the thrash metal community and rightfully so, they never changed their style of music over the years. But now that they're older, their creativity diminished. I'm not discouraging people from buying their new album because I bought it, I just feel that with 'A Day of Reckoning', 'Spiritual Genocide' (respectively 2011 and 2012), etc. they've really not come up with work that's meaningful in any way. It's the same thrash riffs all over the place. I would just say that the riffs are average on here. They have some clean tone guitars on here but not much and most of the licks aren't unique. They're out of ideas.

Maybe a caution but really listen on YouTube or Spotify before you (if you do) want to purchase this album. I'm stuck on Destruction of the "old", this newer generation even though there are two of the founding members have come up short again. Another disappointment to me as a longtime fan (over 30 years). They need new ideas and they really don't have any with the new material. On 'Born to Perish', there's nothing striking to me about it. It's an average album to a band that used to be incredibly talented. It just makes me sad that their songwriting is in the mud. Caveat Emptor.

Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
04/17/2020 20:18